How to serve Krishna through our job/ business & earned money?
Actual Question from a devotee (Name hidden):
“hare krishna. apke chrno me prnaam. how a person can have n do love with krishna while doing material job for earning the money.. pls advise..”
REPLY:
We can’t quit using ‘materials’ just because we are doing devotional service. Because, even for Lord’s service, we have to use material things. But, when we apply all the materials in the service of Lord, they become spiritual.
This is not a hard task. The objective of whole Bhagavad Gita is that only. Krishna didn’t tell us to skip our material duties. He beautifully and uniquely gives us the process of making all our material duties as HIS SERVICE.
That is why, Bhagavad Gita is a text book in many universities. It is the text book for human life too. It is not just a spiritual guide for a certain religion only. It is applicable for the whole mankind.
Also read: Is Surrender to Krishna possible when we perform duties as said by Krishna?
I have a library in which I have most of the topics of Spiritual books as they will help in preaching and to face typical questions from other religions/ classes also. In my experience, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY ALTERNATIVE TO BHAGAVAD GITA.
Bhagavad gita has NO MATCHES. Tips for a whole life within just 700 slokas. Each and every sloka is a LIFE CHANGING ONE. It is the formula for Perfect Life.
So, please read ‘Bhagavd Gita As It Is’ translated and purported by Srila Prabhupada. Start from the beginning. In the chapter KARMA YOGA, Lord Krishna BEAUTIFULLY explains how to make our material duties (svadharma) as His Devotional Service.
Bhagavad Gita is a Guide to make us perform our duties, not to quit our duties. For example, Arjuna feared for the loss of his kiths and kins and teachers in the battle field. He thought that BY QUITTING THAT WAR, he can avoid sins. We too will think like that only, if we are in his position. But, Bhagawan DID NOT ENCOURAGE him to quit the war.
(Remembering Krishna in a sensitive job. Alternative way! Tips!
READ HERE!)
He advised him to do his SVADHARMA, because, FIGHTING WAR is the svadharma for KSHATRIYAS. By doing his svadharma, he will not incur sins. And, most importantly, Krishna advised Arjuna to FIGHT THE WAR as KRISHNA WANTED HIM TO FIGHT. As Arjuna fought war as said by Krishna, he in fact served Krishna through that war.
Apply the same in your life. Dedicate all your duties for Krishna.
If you are working, keep in mind that you are working to serve Krishna better, not to increase your material wealths. Also spend a part of your earning for preaching the words of Krishna, or, helping those who are already preaching. By doing so, you can purify your earning. Make your working spot as the serving spot of Krishna. Make your friends in the work spot as the devotees of Krishna. Distribute Srila prabhupada’s books to them and make them to do the same. Let others connected to your job/ business know about Krishna and also serve Him.
Thus, you have made your JOB as the Service for Krishna.
You need not make thousands of people the devotees of Krishna. Atleast make your kiths and kins the devotees of Krishna. Just speak to your Co-staff, employees, friends and neighbours about Krishna and request them to chant Lord’s Names.
If this is impossible, atleast you shape yourself as a sincere devotee that will attract others and make them think of the Lord.
I too am keeping the copies of Bhagavad Gita on my table and also in a rack behind my workspot. I have kept a large Krishna (Mukund, that is our profile picture) photo (2.5 feet height) just behind my table.
(Professional life Vs Devotional practices – How to balance the both?
READ HERE!)
Whenever a visitor comes, he will see Krishna’s photo and Bhagavad Gita. Many of them will start their discussion about Krishna. I too will speak to them about Krishna Consciousness and distribute some books on Krishna on the spot with special discount for the needy people that is borne by me from my earning. That means, I buy from ISKCON temple for a price. I reduce 15-20% in the price and sell to the visitors who are financially weak. Thus, in such cases, I may be bearing about Rs.40-50. At the same time, I will request the potential persons to buy in the original price itself.
Thus, every month, atleast a few new persons get the exposure to the books of Srila Prabhupada. To do this service, I do not go to forest and I do not quit my earning services. I have blended Krishna Consciousness with my existing earning activities. In addition to that, I am making some contribution to the temple regularly that will help the devotees there to preach.
Above all, I am somehow managing the websites, domain names, net connection, Computers, my valuable time of about 4-5 hours and health every day, to serve Krishna and His devotees to deal with the devotion and different situations in life. Thus, I am happily spending my earning and time in the service of Lord. Thus, I am doing some earning activities and also serve Krishna by spending a part of my time and earnings. This is the best way to manage both the material job and service to Krishna.
This way, I am making my MATERIAL CAREER & EARNINGS as SPIRITUAL. So, I do not feel guilty of doing astro services and counselling services. I am trying to serve the Lord in my own set up. So, I do not need to go to forests to perform devotional service. I am even typing this post as the service to the lord, while performing my other duties. So, what is the problem in performing our duties and service to Lord simultaneously?
This is what Srila Prabhupada and other acharyas advised. He advised us to make our home and work spot as temple.
(Why people become sanyasis though Krishna has advised to perform our assigned duties? READ HERE!)
So, you too follow this Easymethod in your set up or job. In addition to this, do chanting sincerely every day and start to take Prasadam only. If you take these combined efforts, performing Krishna Consciousness process is very enjoyable and blissful. Nothing can match it in this material world.
So, earn well in an ethical way. Help your customrers, friends and relatives know about Krishna. Spend a part of your earning and time for Krishna’s service. You too try to become pure by following 4 regulative principles and Chanting.
That’s all. You will be on the right track. You will feel the Satisfaction. All the best.
(What are the jobs suitable to follow devotion also? READ HERE!)